4.1.2 Anatomy of the Heart
Explain the function of the aorta
The aorta distributes oxygenated blood to all parts of the body through the systemic circulation. The aorta begins at the top of the left ventricle, the heart muscular chamber.
Describe how the thickness of the aorta compares to the other great vessels.
The aorta is thicker than the pulmonary artery because the blood in the aorta has to go all the way around the body. The width of the artery is bigger than the width of the vein because the body and blood gist thick.
Describe how the true true of the aorta relates to its function in the heart
The hearts muscular pumping chamber. It's small branches supply blood to the ribs and some chest structures. The heart pumps blood from the left ventricle into the aorta through the aortic valve.
What structural differences did you notice between arteries and veins?
Arteries have a thicker walls, have a narrow lumen to maintain the high blood pressure, thick outer layer of longitudinal collagen and elastic fibers to avoid leaks. Vein have thinner wall, veins have valves, veins have a wide lumen, thin outer layer of longitudinal collagen and elastic fiber.
Explain the functions of the left and right atria
The left atrium: receiving blood from them lungs via the pulmonary beings and pumping it to the left ventricle. Right: deoxygenated blood entering the heart through veins from the tissues of the body first enters the heart through the right atrium before being pumped into the right ventricle.
Differentiate between the functions of the left and right ventricles
The left ventricle is the thickest of the heart's chanmbers and is responsible for pumping oxgenated blood to tissures all over the body. The right ventricle soley pumps blood to the lungs. Right pumps blood up through the pulmonary valve and through the pulmonary artery to the lungs.
Explain the function of the mitral valve
The mitral opens to increased pressure as the left atrium fills with blood. Blood flows through into the left ventricle as the heart expands. IT thin closes as the heart contracts and forces blood into the aorta.
Explain the function of the pulmonary veins
The pulmonary veins are responsible for carrying oxygenated blood from the lungs back to the left atrium of the heart. The left: returns blood from the upper left lobe of the Lunt back to the heart. The right: returns blood from the upper right lobe of the lung back to the heart.
What are the two differences when comparing the four chambers of the heart?
Tow atria and tow ventricles. The right ventricle receives oxygen poor blood the body and pumps it to the right ventricle. The right ventricle pumps oxygen-poor blood to the lungs. The left atrium receives oxygen rich blood=do from the lungs and pumps it to the left ventricle. The left ventricle pumps the oxygen rich blood to the body.
Anna's autopsy report noted mitral valve prolapse. This means that the mitral valve does not close properly. Explain why this could be a problem
When the left ventricle contracts, one or both flaps of the mitral valve flop or bulge back into the left atrium. This can prevent the valve forming a tight seal. Blood may leak from the ventricle back into the atrium. The back flow fo blood is called regurgitation.
